Nar Phu Valley Trek is inarguably one of the better off-the-beaten-track trails and the least visited regions in West Nepal. Since it was opened in 2003, very few visitors have been in the wild, exotic, and sparsely populated valleys of Nar and Phu, offering intriguing medieval Tibetan culture and customs that remain untouched and along with breathtaking mountain views.
Nar Phu Valley’s restricted area can only be accessed with a special permit issued to an authorized trekking agency, providing the trekking tour’s essential logistics. The Nar Phu Valley trek has to be completed in seven days because that is the period the permit is issued for.
Our journey starts with a drive to Koto, a little village on the crossroads of the main Annapurna circuit trail and the gateway into the Nar Phu valleys. We go off the beaten track via a deep narrow river valley north of the Annapurna range.
We have a few days of acclimatizing and exploring the subalpine forests, mysterious valleys, and narrow river valleys with the presence of a robust Tibetan Buddhist culture along with ever-increasing wildlife – we might even spot the elusive snow leopard on the hike to the village of Nar.
We hike on a barren trail to high camp at the base of Kang La pass, also known as Kang La Phedi (4,530m). We climb gradually on a steep ascent, which leads to the summit of Kang La pass (5,320m).
We can be rewarded with spectacular views of the Annapurna range and the Marshyangdi valley from the top. We will have a 360-degree panorama on a clear day. Kang La is the gateway from the remote Nar/Phu valley into the ever-famous Marshyangdi valley. We have a steep descent to the village of Ngawal (3,615m). We are now on the main trail of the Annapurna circuit trek.
Some of the towering peaks seen from the summit of Kang La are Lamjung Himal, Annapurna II. Annapurna IV and Annapurna III, to name a few. We will be looking at the North Face of the Annapurna Range.
From Ngawal, We drive to Besisahar, where we stop for the night. It is a grueling drive of 8-10 hours on rough roads. We continue our overland journey the following day, all the way to Kathmandu.
